COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Lindsey impresses in Rider's opening win

LAWRENCEVILLE — The build-up to Friday night’s curtain raiser was all about Kevin Baggett and his first game as Rider coach, but it didn’t take Nurideen Lindsey long to steal the show, turning it into his own dazzling debut.

Lindsey scored 26 points, the Broncs harassed Robert Morris on defense and won their season opener for the first time since 2009, 79-54, in front of a sold-out Alumni Gymnasium.

“I was pretty excited to get out there for the season opener,” said Lindsey, who finished 10 of 15 from the field in 32 minutes. “Our fans come and they show some unbelievable support so I was excited to come out and perform for them on our floor in the opener.”

Advertisement

Baggett promised improved defense and an up-tempo style from his new-look squad, which features seven fresh faces.

“If we defend, we will,” said Baggett when asked if there will be more performances like this. “I can’t say we’ll win by this large of a margin, but if we defend, we’ll give ourselves a chance to win every night.”

That was a stark contrast from last year’s opener when RMU ran Rider off the floor in a 26-point victory. The Broncs were never in that game, trailing by 20 at the half.

Payback was served Friday.

Baggett said in the lead-up to the game that last season’s result wasn’t bulletin-board material. Maybe he was telling little white lie.

Myles said he went back with Thompson and Lindsey to watch the film of that game.

“Actually, it was,” Myles said while a smiling Baggett sat next to him. “We were going over what we needed to do, and our defense wasn’t where it needed to be, and that’s one emphasis this year that (Baggett) stresses. We did that tonight. Everybody bought in and we came up with the win.”

Lindsey got the Broncs off to a fast start, scoring 16 of his points in the first half. Rider held RMU to 6 of 25 shooting in the opening 20 minutes, building a 13-point advantage at halftime.

The lead grew in the second half.

Lindsey threw down a one-handed jam on the fast-break, and while the Colonials, 26-game winners a year ago, continued to throw up bricks, Rider pulled away.

Myles drilled a 3-pointer with 11:47 remaining and after a RMU basket, Zedric Sadler, one of six freshmen to see time, hit a 3 of his own, giving the Broncs a 57-36 lead.

Rider outscored the Colonials, 27-9, to start the second half.

“I was very comfortable,” Lindsey said. “Coach does a great job of giving me that confidence in being comfortable of leading the guys to the best of my abilities. They emphasize everything at practice, especially defense. Lately, I’ve just tried to be a sponge and take everything in.”

Karvel Anderson was the on RMU player to reach double figures, finishing with 11 points. Coron Williams, who scored a career-high 28 points in last year’s meeting, ended up with seven — he scored the Colonials’ first six on 3-point shots (they would only make two more the rest of the way, finishing 4 of 20).